Page 5

“Call meqalifaone more time, and you’ll see just how good this little girl is at trying to choke the hell out of you.” And who the hell was he trying to kid? Endearment?Ha!He only called her ‘little girl’ because he knew how much she hated her youthful looks. And really, childhood friend?Double ha!He was a sheikh, and she just happened to be the daughter of the American soldier who had saved his uncle’s life. Even if special circumstances had allowed them to see each other for one week every year, it still wasn’t enough to constitute a childhood friendship, and they both knew it.

“You are as feisty as ever,” the sheikh suddenly stated.

She only stared at him.You’re a pain in the ass...as always.

The sheikh laughed, the lovely, deep sound causing everyone to turn towards them, and Harper almost swore out loud.For the love of God!This man was the worst. He was often described as aloof but gentlemanly, but in her presence the damn sheikh would always make it a point to smile, laugh, do whatever that would make it seem like they were such good friends –

And all just so she could blow her top, Harper thought furiously,which the damn sheikh found so enjoyable to watch for some reason.

“I am glad you have not changed all this time.” The sheikh reached out to ruffle her hair, just like the ‘qalifa’ he thought her to be, and Harper was tempted to sink her teeth into it like a rabid dog.Oh, to hurt him just once, she thought wistfully.

“Why are you looking at me like you want to kill me?’

“Because I am.”

The sheikh laughed again.

She grimaced. She had wanted him to feel insulted, not amused.

“One day, some people may tell you to refrain from speaking your mind to me.”

Harper only stared.Where did that come from?

“When that happens – do not listen to them.”

“Umm. Okay.” The sheikh was sounding crazier and crazier by the second, but oh well. Maybe sheikhs simply applied a different kind of logic to life.Whatever.

The sheikh suddenly leaned forward, catching her by surprise, and when he lifted his hand to touch her cheek, Harper’s first instinct was to turn away from his touch—-

But again, her gaze once again collided with her father’s, his ferocious scowl perfectly summing up his one-word command.Behave!

And so she gnashed her teeth and forced herself to bear the sheikh’s touch.

I can do this, I can do this.

But with every millimeter of skin that his fingers brushed against blazing to life, flushed hot and tingling, it was so damn hard—-

His fingers finally fell away, and Harper almost expired in relief.

Oh, thank God.

“Enjoy the rest of the night, Harper.” His gaze dipped just as her fists clenched against her sides, and amusement once again gleamed in the sheikh’s dark gaze. “You are itching to wipe my touch away,nem?”

She smiled ever so sweetly up at him, saying,“Nem.”Yes.It was a lie – but she would rather cut her tongue off than let him know that. “How did you guess?” Harper was hoping the words would at least win a frown from the sheikh, but instead the damn man remained unflappable as ever.

“I will see you at dinner,qalifa.” And just before turning away, he said huskily, “It was lovely flirting with you.”

The sheikh left her gaping.

Flirting? FLIRTING? How dare he imply—-

CLICK!

Harper snapped her mouth shut, but it was too late. The official photographer had already taken her photo, and again the sheikh had managed to bait her into showing a God-awful face.

DAMN SHEIKH!